Valley Medical Center has always prided itself on being a baby-friendly facility, but now it’s official, Valley has received a prestigious international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility from Baby-Friendly, USA.
“This is very exciting news for our hospital, and the community we serve,” says Deann Edgers, Director of Nursing Development & Informatics, Patient Care Services. “While this is only the beginning of a wonderful journey, it’s a significant step towards being recognized for the role this hospital plays in quality patient care. We pride ourselves on providing the best possible care to every patient, every time, and this designation recognizes the strides we’ve made toward that goal.”
Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“BFHI”), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.
There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide. Currently there are 406 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States. The “Baby-Friendly” designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice the Ten Steps as demonstrated by quality processes.
For more information on the Baby-Friendly program, visit our Lactation Services webpage.
